After initial panic and a constitutional and political crisis, the country is struggling on without a Minister for Faith. Benjamin Jones lambasts the Prime Minister for leaving this crucial role unfilled for so long.

Religious leaders are wielding disproportionate influence in this election. Benjamin Jones argues that this is likely to get worse, and politicians should resist the urge to treat religious people as blocs.

With the embedding in of multiculturalism, communal, sectarian politics are becoming prevalent in many towns and cities with significant religious-ethnic minority communities. Rumy Hasan argues that many candidates now seek votes from people on the basis of their religion, ethnicity, and country of origin, rather than on political ideology.

The British Election Study (BES) has shed new light on the voting intentions of non-believers and religious minorities. Benjamin Jones explores the results and considers some of the potential long term consequences.

The Tories plan to use the upcoming Corby by-election to "road test" an appeal to the "faith vote". Terry Sanderson questions whether a religious voting bloc even exists in the town – or anywhere in Britain for that matter.